Crunch time for New York bottle deposit bill

Opponents of legislation to expand bottle deposits to water, juice and other non-carbonated drinks in New York have taken to the airwaves with an ad campaign saying the only significant result would be higher prices.

The ads come as the bill may have the best chance in years of passing.

Advocates say the measure will eliminate tons of litter. Big bottlers, supermarkets and other businesses have countered with the advertising and $2 million in contributions to lawmakers over two years.

Gov. David Paterson and the Assembly have backed mandatory five-cent deposits. But the Senate's Republican majority killed the bill every year for more than two decades. Now Democrats with a new majority in the chamber are expected to consider the measure within days.